PLA neat resinIntroducing the Corbion Purac PLA portfolio

corbion.com/bioplastics

PLA is a biobased plastic derived from natural resources and offers a significant reduction in carbon footprint compared to oil-based plastics. Corbion Purac uses carbohydrates as the raw material to produce lactic acid via a fermentation process, which is polymerized via the lactide intermediate into PLA. PLA is currently being used in a variety of applications like packaging and food serviceware, and is increasingly becoming the material of choice for more demanding applications in automotive, electronics and textiles.

Fig 1. PLA portfolio from Corbion Purac

Product category

Incr

easi

ng m

olec

ular

wei

ght

PLLAhomopolymers

Standard PLA

D070

PDLAhomopolymers

LX175

L105

L130

L175

Corbion Purac offers a number of PLA grades based on stereochemically pure monomers. This new portfolio of neat PLA resins includes products in three categories:• PLLA homopolymers for injection molding (L105, L130)

and extrusion/thermoforming (L175),• Standard PLA for extrusion/thermoforming (LX175),• PLLA homopolymers (L130, L175) and standard PLA

(LX175) for fiber spinning• PDLA homopolymers as a nucleating agent for PLLA

homopolymers (D070).

Corbion Purac’s neat PLA resins are compliant with the most relevant regulations and requirements related to bioplastics:• Approved for use in food contact applications (EU

Framework Regulation EC No. 1935/2004 and No. 10/2011),

• Compliant with EN13432 standard for industrial composting,

• Biobased content of 100%,• REACH compliant,• Exclusively made from non-GMO feedstocks,• Reduced carbon footprint - 3rd party LCA study

available.

Biobased

Reduced carbon footprint

Multiple end-of-life options

Proven in durable applications

PLA is an acronym that describes not just one product, but a range of different polymers. PLA resins are available in a range of stereochemical purities and viscosities, resulting in different properties (see figure 2 and the table below).

PLA homopolymers

Corbion Purac’s PLA homopolymer resins are available in a range of melt viscosities and deliver improved heat resistance over standard PLA. These grades can be used as neat resin or as part of a compound in order to further optimize overall material properties. In order to obtain improved heat resistance over standard PLA, these resins need to crystallize during processing.• PLA L105 is a high flow resin suitable for injection molding.• PLA L130 is a medium flow resin suitable for injection

molding and fiber spinning.• PLA L175 is a low viscosity resin suitable for film extrusion,

thermoforming or fiber spinning.

Standard PLA

• PLA LX175 is a low viscosity, amorphous, transparent resin, suitable for film extrusion, thermoforming or fiber spinning.

PDLA

PDLA, when combined with PLA homopolymers, will yield a compound that combines good heat resistance with excellent mechanical properties and a reduced processing cycle time (see figure 3). Typical nucleated formulations should include 3-7% PDLA.• PDLA D070 is a general purpose nucleating agent for PLA

homopolymer resins.

Fig 2. PLA homopolymers compared to standard PLA

Biop

last

ics•

2015

/05/

04•

TS-PLA

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504

Corbion is the global market leader in lactic acid, lactic acid derivatives and lactides, and a leading company in emulsifiers, functional enzyme blends, minerals and vitamins.

For the plastics industry, Corbion Purac offers lactides and PLA resins for general purpose and high performance bioplastics. PLA (Poly Lactic Acid) is a biobased plastic with a

low carbon footprint and is used in packaging, disposables, fibers, electronics and automotive markets. Corbion operates 11 production plants, in the USA, the Netherlands,

Spain, Brazil and Thailand, and markets its products through a worldwide network of sales offices and distributors.

Interested in our solutions for PLA bioplastics ? Go to corbion.com/bioplastics bioplastics@corbion.com @CorbionBioplast

© Copyright 2015 Corbion. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be copied, downloaded, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical photocopied, recorded or otherwise, without permission of the publisher. No representation or warranty is made as to the truth or accuracy of any data, information or opinions contained herein or as to their suitability for any purpose, condition or application. None of the data, information or opinions herein may be relied upon for any purpose or reason. Corbion disclaims any liability, damages, losses or other consequences suffered or incurred in connection with the use of the data, information or opinions contained herein. In addition, nothing contained herein shall be construed as a recommendation to use any products in conflict with existing patents covering any material or its use.

PLA PDLAL105* L130* L175* LX175 D070

Application High flow injection molding

General purpose injection molding,

fibers

Thermoforming, fibers, extrusion

Thermoforming, fibers, films,

extrusion

Nucleating agent for injection molding

PhysicalDensity g/cm3 1.24 1.24 1.24 1.24 1.24

Optical purity % L-isomer >99% >99% >99% 96% -

Processing

MFI (Flow) 210°C/2.16kg 50 16 6 6 >75

Melting temperature (Tm) °C 175 175 175 155 175

Glass transition temperature (Tg) °C 57 57 57 55 57

Pre-drying before processing yes/no Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

MechanicalTensile modulus MPa 3500 3500 3500 3500 3500

Tensile strength MPa 50 50 50 45 40

Elongation at break % <5% <5% <5% <5% <5%

Impact Charpy notched, 23°C kJ/m2 <5 <5 <5 <5

Heat**HDT B (amorphous) °C 55 - 60 55 - 60 55 - 60 55 - 60

HDT B (crystalline) °C 100 - 110 100 - 110 100 - 110 * Values listed are typical values for resins in crystalline state, for more detailed information please refer to specific datasheets. ** HDT B, 0.45MPa, flatwise. HDT depends on processing conditions. For crystalline resins, formulation included 3 - 7% nucleating agent (D070) and molding took place in a 90 - 100°C tool

PLA neat resinIntroducing the Corbion Purac PLA portfolio

Fig 3. Effect of nucleating package and mold temperature on crystallization time

Requ

ired

cry

stal

lizat

ion

tim

e (s

)

B

Mold temperature (°C)LAK 301 nucleated PLLA (1.5mm part thickness)PDLA nucleated PLLA (1.5mm part thickness)

140

100

120

80

60

40

20

075 11511010510095908580

D Lactic Acid L Lactic Acid

PLLAL105 L130L175

PDLAD070

PLALX175

Standard PLA (Tm = 311°F / 155°C)

PLA homopolymers (Tm = 347°F / 175°C)